South Africa Crime & Safety
Violence, Crime and the 2010 World Cup
There was something a little ironic this week about the erstwhile doyen of the African National Congress, Winnie Maikizela Mandela, trumpeting her dismay at the wave of xenophobic violence that has, and continues to sweep through South Africa. Considering that her immortal contribution to the catalogue of English language quotes was …with our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country… it would seem that Winnie Mandela has little grounds to express any particular shock or outrage. She was, after all, one of the principal architects of that ghastly South African practice of necklaceing.
Prejudice & Awareness
Hypocrisy aside, the horrifying imagery that has been blazed across broadsheets and computer screens worldwide seems finally to have shocked a complacent South African administration into acknowledging that a disease is rampant within its society. If the 2010 World Cup is to be saved, time is perilously short, but it is not too late.
The 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament is a Holy Grail to Africans starved of respectability in a world that is weary of the age old blight of Africa. When the award was made by FIFA in 2004 there was an air of grudging symbolism that failed impress a good many observers. Included among them was soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer, who shook his head, and expressed his doubts in terms of logistical capacity, but probably had reasons far more visceral and difficult to define to explain his pessimism.
Date: May 30th, 2008 |
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Crime in South Africa: Know the Score.
On my most recent trip to South Africa I met and fell into conversation with a Danish women at a local backpackers lodge who had been in the country for a few days, and who was, within a week or so, due to take up a voluntary appointment working for a month or two at Kruger National Park. The subject drifted to local crime, and as I gave her the usual dissertation that I spare no newcomer, I could see by the smile on her face, and a general look of indulgence, that she had me down as a paranoid local white racist with an historic distrust of black people. Even as I drew her attention to the 9ft high wall surrounding the property, the steel gate at the front door, and the loops of razor wire running the length of the perimeter, she still preferred to rely on her instincts, and the surface impression one invariably gets on arrival in South Africa. To prove this point she slung her day pack over her shoulder, popped her camera in her fanny pack, and set off downtown on foot.
How serious is the problem?
It is a fact that South Africa, especially Johannesburg, and the many comfortable backpackers or luxury lodges that abound, do not in combination give the newcomer any hint of the fact that South Africa is a very dangerous country indeed. Johannesburg has one of the best urban freeway systems in the world, but you will never see a soft top convertible. It has some of the most lavishly appointed malls and shopping centers anywhere, but each is patrolled by a heavily armed paramilitary security guard with two side arms, body armor and an R5 assault rifle. It has one of the most tried and tested, effective and best equipped police forces on the planet, from the ranks of which at least one, but often more, are killed in shootouts with criminals every month, not to mention the extraordinary number who fall victim to suicide, or stress related fratricidal killings.
Date: March 13th, 2008 |
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Violent crime in Cape Town: Flash Mob
When the pressures of crime, government and equal opportunity get you down, it is comforting to know you can go and smack someone with a pillow.
This flash mob event was filmed at the Victoria Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. I expected to see the riot squad and special forces arrive to smack seven flavours of spit out of them, but it went down without hitch or reprimand it seems.
For a list of Cape Town Flash mob events you can see their Facebook group here. And you …
Date: September 13th, 2007 |
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Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town: Arrested!
My heroine, Mayor Helen (of Troy) God-Zille, has been arrested this morning during a march against gangsterism and drugs.
“The question that arises is this: everyone knows who the drug dealers in Mitchell’s Plain are, and where they ply their trade why are they not arrested?” said the Zillmonster.
The childlike empress (Helen Zille) apparently knocked on the door of a suspected (known) drug dealer, which was “out of the spectrum of the march”. 8 persons including the honourable Zille were arrested for an illegal gathering outside the Mitchell Plein police station. “The last time I witnessed people treated in this way was during anti-apartheid protests. We now have a constitution and a Bill of Rights.”- Zillina.
Date: September 10th, 2007 |
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Flea Markets and Craft Markets in Cape town
Capetonians love flea markets! and we have several every weekend: Here are the main ones.
Greenpoint Stadium Flea market: This started with a guy selling Boerewors rolls on the weekend and has blossomed into the largest fleamarket in Cape Town.
It is held every Sunday and public holiday from 09:00 till 17:00. This used to be a fantastic market with bric-a-brac and intersting things, nowadays it has declined into somewhat of a tourist trap, with many stalls selling identical items, Chinese grey goods and boot polished curios. It is still worth a walk around, if not only for the bustle and throng. It is situated in Greenpoint, in the carpark of the stadium, but since construction began for 2010 I suspect the market has been moved nearby or cancelled for the time being. I will update this post when I get information.
Milnerton Market: This is my favourite flea market in Cape Town, with plenty of oddities and collectables that vendors have dredged from deceased estates and antique stores. The market has a policy of keeping the curio and t-shirt sellers to a minimum to retain the feel of the market. It is held on an open piece of land next to the R27 (West Coast Road) in Milnerton every Saturday and Sunday from 07:00 till 16:00. There are some good food stands here also selling pancakes, boerewors rolls, biltong and rusks.
Date: August 19th, 2007 |
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Violence In South Africa: How serious is it?
Joburg in Flames?
With the crazy news coming out of South Africa over the past week it was Germany that issued the first travel warning, advising its nationals to steer clear of Johannesburg, and no doubt there will be others to follow. Johannesburg is a violent and dangerous place, it always has been, and chances are it always will be. It is the City of Gold with an appropriate gold rush mentality, and the current rash of street violence is nothing new.
However it always helps to keep these things in perspective. While not wanting to take too much of a let them eat cake approach to the social divide in South Africa, the xenophobic attacks taking place at various locations around the country are confined to the townships and shanty towns where the most violent and unpredictable elements exist, alongside the regional refugees and economic migrants against whom most of these attacks are directed. These are areas that no tourist would ever knowingly wander into and expect to get out alive, just as an outsider would avoid the Gaza Strip, or any number of Rio favellas, or indeed many areas of New York, LA or London after dark.
Date: May 20th, 2008 |
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How to avoid getting scammed in Cape Town #1 : Hitchhiking Conmen
As a South African, and long time sufferer of cons, tricks, scams and so forth, I like to think of myself as at least a little streetwise. Well pride comes before a fall, and I would like to warn fellow Capetonians and anyone planning on driving our roads of a new fad in scallywagginess.
I was innocently driving home the other day when I saw a hot and bothered elderly man toting a briefcase along the R27 (West Coast Road). He was half heartedly hitching with his free hand, in an embarrassed manner. Of course I pulled over to help Oupa (Grandpa) out and he seemed very appreciative and indeed surprised that anyone would have stopped for him.
Date: October 25th, 2007 |
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Two tourists arrested for photographing Zulu Royal Reed Dance.
Umkhosi woMhlanga is the Zulu name for the Royal Reed dance which happens every September at KwaNyokeni Palace, Nongoma, which is the Zulu nation’s royal residence.
Over 10 000 virgin maidens are invited from throughout KwaZulu Natal, to dance in the ceremony and thousands more Zulus help the prepare. The occasion marks a Zulu maidens passage to womanhood, and serves to unite the Zulu nation under the King, who presides over the ceremony. (Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu)
Many of the Zulu maidens are ritually “topless”, so indiscreet photo taking is discouraged, as are women wearing pants entering the royal residence. This season two tourist had been arrested for taking pictures of the topless Zulu maidens, but later released. “Zulu maidens are increasingly becoming targets of unscrupulous photographers and cameramen who take the pictures of maidens and flash them on Internet porn sites,” said Nhlanhla Mtaka, media director for the event.
Date: September 11th, 2007 |
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Sangomas: The South African Shamen
In the ancestor worshipping traditions held by the majority (80%) of South Africans (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndabele and Swazi) the Sangoma is the primary and sometimes exclusive healer and counsellor.
There is no governing body to control who is, and who is not, a sangoma, anyone can claim to be one (there are over 200,000!). Traditionally a new sangoma is called by an initiation illness, often psychosis, headache, stomach pain, shoulder or neck complaints. After which they will undergo “Thwasa”, a period of training including learning humility to the ancestors, purification through steaming, washing in the blood of sacrificed animals, and the use of Muti, medicines with spiritual significance. At the end of Thwasa, an animal is sacrificed to appease the ancestors.
Date: September 5th, 2007 |
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Crime on Table Mountain: New road restrictions for the summer season ‘06
An attack on two British tourists hit the news today and has caused some shock waves amongst the management of Cape Town Tourism. A somewhat knee-jerk reaction has called for parties of less than 4 or 5 to be turned away from entering Tafelberg Road and Signal Hill road after 10pm. This will last until the end of the summer season. I think this response is partly owing to the run-up to 2010 (World Cup), where bad publicity is just bad publicity.
Date: December 22nd, 2006 |
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